Crankcase with false bottom



F. O. CLEMENTS CRANKCASE WITH FALSE BOTTOM Dec. 27, 1932.

Filed April 28. 1928 Patented Dec. 27, 1932 TATES @ATENT OFFECE FRANK O. CLEMENTS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'IO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CGRIPORATION, 43F DETROIT, MICHEGAN, A. CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE CRANKUASE wrrn FALSE BOTTOM Application filed April 28, 1928.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines for motor vehicles, and more particularly to an improvement in crankcase oil pans.

The invention contemplates the provision of a false bottom in the engine oil pan that is provided with restricted entrance openings or apertures, through which tl e dirt particles and other foreign material suspended in the engine lubricating oil may pass, up on settling out, so as to be entrapped beneath the false bottom and held against re-circulation through the engine lubricating system.

Ordinarily the lubricating oil gradually be comes dirty in use and requires replacement after a short interval. Since most motor vehicles are not in continuous use, but rather are allowed to remain idle for. at least some portion of the day, it will be evident that during each idle period the heavier particles will tend to settle out and drop to the bottom of the crankcase pan. The provision of the sediment trap, forming the present subject mat ter, enables the dirt that once settles out to be held back. In View of the fact that the engine oil does not take up much dirt in a days time, or in an operating period between idle intervals, the oil will remain comparatively clean and clear for an indefinite period of use, thus eliminating the necessity for frequent replacement.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an internal combustion engine with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the engine crankcase pan;

F ig. -l is a detail sectional View of a slight modification.

Referring by reference characters to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates an internal combustion engine having a crankcase pan or oil reservoir 2, detachably held on the underside of the engine. Bemovably secured in spaced relation with the bottom of the oil pan 2, as by means of screw studs 3 to Serial No. 273,655.

a lateral flange 4 of band 5, welded or otherwise fastened to the side walls of the oil pan, is a partition wall or false bottom 6. This false bottom 6 is preferably stamped from a sheet metal plate, and is provided with a series of slots or openings, with the material on either side of the slots bent or pressed downwardly out of the plane of the plate, to afford inclined surfaces leading to the openings. A series of bafile walls or splash plates 7, having end flanges secured, as .by welding, to the bottom of the oil pan are located in the space below the partition wall or false bottom 6, and are arranged in alternate relation with the openings or slots in the wall. The plates or walls 7 provide a number of sediment pockets, each having an entrance opening of restricted size in the false bottom 6, which forms a cover plate therefor. In order to supply the engine bearings with lubricant under pressure, a pump 8, of conventional design, is positioned in the oil pan. The intake or suction conduit 9 of the pump opens below the normal liquid level and above the partition wall, so that the body of liquid above the false bottom only is drawn into the pump and circulated through the lubricating system. Thus the liquid in the sediment wells or dead space beneath the false bottom will not be affected by the operation of the pump, but will lie idle and have little or no movement, except for its tendency to surge during vehicle travel, which sur ing, however, is broken up and reduced to a minimum by the use of the splash plates 7 During idle periods of the engine any dirt particles suspended in the lubricating oil will slowly settle down and drop onto the false bottom 6, the inclined surfaces leading to the openings or apertures therein serving to direct or guide the dirt particles through the openings and intothe space below the wall. The restricted openings and the downwardly inclined portions of the wall serve to prevent the dirt particles from leaving the sediment wells, once they enter, and since there is practically no agitation or stirring of the liquid in the wells, it will be evident that the dirt particles will simply fall to the bottom and 1e there, entrapped against re-circulation through the lubrication system. Because of the fact that the oil picks up only a small amount of dirt at a time, and because most vehicles stand idle frequently and for long periods, the dirt is allowed to settle out and be trapped as fast as it is picked up by the oil. For this reason, the oil remains comparatively clean and, unless it is otherwise contaminated, as by dilution, its life or period of usefulness is almost without end. It will be understood, of course, that in the event it is desired to clean the oil pan of accumulated sediment, the pan may be removed from the engine, and the false bottom taken out so as to permit the sediment to be scraped and flushed out.

Fig. 4: illustrates a slight modification of the structure heretofore described, wherein the oil pan 10 is provided with a false bottom 11 having the material to one side only of the slots bent down. The splash plates 12, in this instance, are carried by and re movable with the false bottom, affording a unit assembly that would be particularly adaptable as an accessory device for installation on existing Yehicles.

While the device has been described more or less specifically, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details shown, but that such modifications may be made as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine, of an oil pan, a partition wall therein extending across the pan in spaced relation with the bottom thereof to afford a sediment chamber, said wall having openings therein with the adjacent material on each side of the several openings inclined downwardly to provide deflectors against the return of sediment through said openings, and an oil pump in said pan above the partition wall.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine, of an oil pan, a partition wall secured to the sides of the pan in spaced relation with the pan bottom and below the normal liquid level to afford a sediment chamber, said wall having a plurality of slits therein with the material adjacent each slit inclined downwardly to afford a guide for the passage of sediment in one direction and an obstruction to the passage of sediment in the opposite direction.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein walls are provided in the sediment chamber to divide it into a series of pockets each independent of the other.

at. In an internal combustion engine, an oil pan, a false bottom extending across the pan and below the normal liquid level, comprising a plate having a succession of slits with the material adjacent each slit bent the pan and provided with a series of slits therein, deflector parts associated with each slit and constituted by portions of the plate material on opposite sides of the slits being bent, below the plane of the plate to provide on the underside of the plate inclined guiding surfaces leading away from the slits, and a series of walls extending upwardly from the bottom of the pan and being arranged in spaced relation to each other and between succeeding slits.

6. In an internal combustion engine, an oil pan, a plate spaced above the bottom of the pan and provided with a series of slits therein, with portions to one side of the slits deflected downwardly out of the plane of the plate, and a series of walls projecting downwardly from the plate at the other side of the slits and cooperating with adjacent deflected portions to arovide restricted ooenin 's through the plate.

7. In a pressure lubricating system for internal combustion engines, an oil pan for receiving and storing lubricating oil that falls from the engine parts, an engine driven pump for supplying oil to the engine parts, having an intake positioned in the pan below the normal oil level therein, and a series of sediment traps in the bottom of the pan below the pump intake, each having constant communication with the oil pan proper through a fixed opening, and deflector parts associated with the several openings to afford at each opening, a combined guide and baffle for directing downwardly moving sediment in the pan toward the opening and upwardly moving entrapped sediment away from the openmg.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK O. (ELEMENTS. 

